I have about had it with the wool Richardson plate hat. I used to use New Era until they stopped making umpire caps. The problem with the Richardson wool is that I constantly get sweat stains when working in warm weather. I know the stains can be eliminated by spraying with water. But, the stains show up during the game. Anyone else having this problem?
Anybody know of a suitable replacement?
Thanks

Get more than one cap and rotate them regularly...cap 1 for game one...cap 2 for game 2...

Clean the damn things routinely...they'll be fine...

Keep a separate cloth with your gear...something NOT used for anything else you in your gear bag...

Spray some water of mild cleanser [no soapy cleanser] on the inside and wipe it down...
I use a soft brush...actually use a small shoe brush so as not to tear up the cap fabric...
and rub/scrub lightly after spraying the cap down...

Spray some Lysol and Frebreze them...

Cleaned and dry by the time I get it home...

They'll be fine and last as long as you normally would get from the old New Era's...

Agree with the multiple cap....also, you could get one of those plastic cap cages. Put the cap in and pop it into the washer - don't have to worry about it losing its shape. Also useful for storage. They run about $10.

Agree with the multiple cap....also, you could get one of those plastic cap cages. Put the cap in and pop it into the washer - don't have to worry about it losing its shape. Also useful for storage. They run about $10.

My only concern with the "cap caddy" and washing the caps are that you can only do that so many times before it's just too much for the bill of the cap to hold up any more...I might do this once a season...more as a "re-vitalizing" it so to speak...

You can fight the sagging cap brim by STARCHING the hell out of it and ironing it...but probably not the best way around it...

K.I.S.S...Keep It Simple Stupid works for most of us...jump on the quick clean after the game thing for a little while...see how it goes...and hey...report back to us and let us know how it's working out...

Do you use the dishwasher? Not an option at my house according to my wife!

Yea, it doesn't seem too bad at all. However, we have a front-loading washer so that may be easier on it than a top-loader. It's not something I do all that often, but if there are visible salt stains I gotta.

I keep 4 hats in rotation but when I clean them I use the cap buddy in my sink with the hose and very hot water...No soap...I just thorougly saturate it inside and out to ensure that the sweat and salt is out of it...Let it dry on a window sill and I am ready to roll...

I will likely try the sink method. I have many hats (more than 10), so not many of them have large sweat stains, but washing them by hand (without the cap buddy) makes them lose their shape rather quickly I've found.

I keep 4 hats in rotation but when I clean them I use the cap buddy in my sink with the hose and very hot water...No soap...I just thorougly saturate it inside and out to ensure that the sweat and salt is out of it...Let it dry on a window sill and I am ready to roll...

Aloha,
Mike

Forgot to add...Every so often I will lightly spray a soft coat of spray on starch on the hat after washing it...While it dries, the starch will help it keep a very nice shape...

I just throw them in washer on dark colors cycle, cold water wash and rinse, with purex no scent, no color laundry soap along with my other umpire unmentionables (tights, socks, shirts, sometimes pants, jock, undershirts). I don't put the hats or other black items or pants in dryer. I just shape with my hand and let them air dry on top of the dryer. I am a creaser of the hat with a steam iron and a pillow case, light touch on the crease front and back, two directions and they still look very good. I have done this more than a dozen times over the last few seasons, multiple times this season so far and they look great (IMHO). My CBUA hats, (that I wear the most. (two of them-six stitch on bases and plate) are from 2008 and 2009. Will probably buy a new one next season just because.